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CDC Weight-for-Stature Growth Chart (2-20 Years)

Plot your child's weight relative to their standing height using CDC reference data. This chart assesses body proportionality for children aged 2-20 years.

LMS Method: Z = ((X/M)^L - 1) / (L x S)

How It Works

This calculator uses CDC growth reference data to assess weight-for-stature (standing height) in children and adolescents. Unlike weight-for-age, weight-for-stature evaluates whether a child's weight is proportionate to their height, independent of age. This is useful for children whose exact age may be uncertain or when assessing body proportionality. The LMS method computes Z-scores using stature-specific parameters.

Example Problem

A girl with a standing height of 110 cm weighs 19.3 kg. What is her weight-for-stature percentile?

  1. Select 'Girl' for gender.
  2. Enter 110 cm for stature.
  3. Enter 19.3 kg for weight.
  4. The calculator finds the LMS parameters for girls at 110 cm and computes the Z-score.
  5. Result: approximately the 50th percentile, indicating the child's weight is proportionate to her height.

Key Concepts

Weight-for-stature is similar in concept to weight-for-length but uses standing height instead of recumbent length. It assesses body proportionality independently of age. For children over 2 years, BMI-for-age is generally preferred for obesity screening, but weight-for-stature provides a useful complementary assessment, especially when BMI cannot be calculated.

Applications

  • Assessing body proportionality in children aged 2 and older
  • Screening when a child's exact age is uncertain
  • Complementary assessment alongside BMI-for-age
  • Monitoring nutritional status in community health settings
  • Evaluating children with growth disorders affecting height and weight differently

Common Mistakes

  • Using recumbent length instead of standing height — this chart requires standing stature
  • Confusing weight-for-stature with weight-for-length (which uses recumbent length for children under 2)
  • Using weight-for-stature as the sole obesity screening tool — BMI-for-age is recommended for children over 2
  • Entering height in inches without selecting the correct unit
  • Not accounting for the child's growth phase — a child in early puberty may have different proportions than a pre-pubertal child

Frequently Asked Questions

What stature range does this calculator cover?

This calculator covers standing heights from 77 cm to 121.5 cm for the CDC weight-for-stature reference. For children shorter or taller than this range, use weight-for-length (under 2) or BMI-for-age (over 2).

How is weight-for-stature different from weight-for-length?

Weight-for-length uses recumbent length (lying down) for children under 2. Weight-for-stature uses standing height for children 2 and older. Standing height is about 0.7 cm shorter than recumbent length.

When should I use weight-for-stature vs. BMI?

BMI-for-age is the recommended screening tool for overweight and obesity in children over 2. Weight-for-stature is a useful complement, especially when BMI cannot be calculated or when age is uncertain.

What do the percentile ranges mean?

Below the 5th percentile may indicate underweight. The 5th to 85th percentile is considered healthy weight. The 85th to 95th percentile suggests overweight. Above the 95th percentile suggests obesity.

Reference: CDC Growth Charts: United States. National Center for Health Statistics, 2000. https://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/

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